Sports, Activity Viewing, Sensing and Interpreting System

ABSTRACT

A sporting activity viewing, sensing, interpreting, and replaying system comprised of a detection equipped grass and turf blade apparatus, system, and method for viewing, sensing, interpreting, seeing, reviewing, and replaying the sporting action occurring, occurred, or replayed regarding the sporting activity. The apparatus may be positioned below, within, or level to the sporting activity surface. The apparatus may incorporate or use optical, fiber, wire, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized or non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, content, or other methods to view, sense, or interpret sport activities on grass, turf, soil, clay, silt, sand, concrete, wood, ice, asphalt, glass or plastic, rubber, ground, or components thereof, surfaces including artificial surfaces of these types. The degree to which sports activities are viewed, sensed, interpreted, or replayed may be enhanced considering present modes of the same.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention/Technical Field

The following is ‘A statement of the field of art to which the invention pertains:

1. U.S. Class: 33

Field of Search: 33/289

2. U.S. Class: 473

Field of Search: 473/490

3. U.S. Class: 367

Field of Search: 367/111

4. U.S. Class: 428

Field of Search: 428/17; 428/15; 428/86; 428/88; 428/92; 428/95; 428/137;

5. U.S. Class: 427

Field of Search: 427/7; 427/256

6. U.S. Class: 482

Field of Search: 482/54; 198/456

7. U.S. Class: 405

Field of Search: 405/37; 137/78.2; 137/561R; 405/36; 405/130; 405/131

8. U.S. Class: 405

Field of Search: U.S. Class: 405/37; 405/38; 405/43; 405/51

9. U.S. Class: 47

47/58.1R; 47/1.01F; 47/1.01R; 47/2; 405/37; 472/92

10. U.S. Class: 47

Field of Search: 47/48.5; 47/1.01F; 47/62R; 405/37

2. Description of the Related Art

Amron, et al. (2004) describe an apparatus, involving a first and second laser disposed at elevated locations and located on opposite lateral sides of the surface, for providing at least one temporary visible reference line on a non-smooth surface within the view of at least one video camera. Betts, et al. (2004) describe a method of fishing which comprises a stream of digital electric sync pulses used to find fish. Squires (2005) describes an artificial turf system that may be in multiple layers occurring on a base composed of ground elements with at least one impermeable layer for drainage and a filter that prevents particles from reaching the impermeable layer. Brogger, et al. (2001) describe a method of marking an article for retrospective authentication, by forming a unique mark including a set of microparticles, each said microparticle having two or more distinguishable layers with the sequence of the layers having an assigned meaning and applying the unique mark to an article to be authenticated, said mark being unique as a result of the pattern formed by the spatial relationship of said microparticles and said pattern being determined upon placement of said mark on the article. Mitchell (2000) describes a means for detecting motion of an object in any direction on the surface of a treadmill, comprising processing and imaging means arranged to provide the illusion of an environment of which the treadmill surface forms a part, said processing means using data concerning the motion of the object and outputting image data to the imaging means to create one or more images to present to the object.

Motz, et al. (1999) describe a control system for an athletic field that coordinates drainage by gravity or vacuum-enhanced drainage and irrigation by monitoring the water level with respect to a subsurface membrane, wherein a flow network resides on the membrane and is covered by a fill layer, which in turn supports the field surface thereabove. The flow network includes couplings located at the intersections of some of the pipe rows and conduit rows. The water permeability of the conduit rows allows the flow network to be used for draining, irrigating or heating the field. The heating of the fill layer and the surface thereabove minimizes energy costs and eliminates installation and maintenance costs that would otherwise be necessitated by separate heating and draining systems.

Motz, et al. (1998) describe a drainage system for a natural turf athletic field that includes a buried drainage network located above a water impermeable membrane which conforms to the topography of a compacted subsoil, the drainage network including a plurality of water impermeable pipe rows partially recessed in depressions in the subsoil and a plurality of water permeable conduit rows oriented perpendicular to and intersecting the pipe rows.

Cunningham (1984) describes a synthetic surface, such as artificial turf, rubberized asphalt, concrete composition, particulate mixtures and the like, that is applied on top of a subsurface base system, which in turn is on top of a subgrade. A liquid impervious membrane is positioned between the subgrade and the base system. The base system comprises an upper layer of sand-containing particulate material in which liquid characteristically moves in the vertical direction and a lower layer of gravel in which liquid characteristically moves well in the horizontal direction as well as downwardly. The material of the upper layer does not significantly penetrate into the gravel. The base system has a non-rutting upper surface. The non-rutting surface is accomplished by planting grass, cutting the grass at least once, and then killing the grass. The synthetic surface is then applied. A conduit system is positioned in the lower gravel layer of the base system, and a water reservoir is established in the base system. In warm temperatures, the synthetic surface can be cooled by maintaining the upper layer of the base system moist, and by circulating cool water into the reservoir and withdrawing warm water therefrom. Conversely, in cold temperatures, warm water can be circulated into the reservoir and colder water therein removed.

Cunningham (1981) describes a level unobstructed grass sports and recreation surface wherein the grass is deeply rooted in a layer of sand overlying a layer of gravel and preferably nurtured from below to provide a controlled growing environment exhibiting vigorous growth. The sand has more positive vertical liquid flow characteristics whereas the gravel has better horizontal liquid flow characteristics and the appropriate gradation selection of both determines the high drainage ability and uniform fertilizer/irrigation distribution throughout the system. The grass surface is defined by a water tight membrane extending from the perimeter, adjacent the surface and completely underlying the gravel layer. Control means are provided to detect the liquid level contained within the membrane and add or remove liquid to maintain the appropriate level. The buried conduit system is used for the controlled addition of water/fertilizer and excess drainage removal. The nutrified liquid from the reservoir is hydroponically supplied to the roots of the grass on a continuous demand basis. Heating cable may be placed at the boundary zone on top of the gravel and sand layers to warm the sand to remove frost and melt snow. An insulation layer may be placed beneath the membrane to minimize frost penetration to the subgrade. The system may be either completely or automatically programmed to accommodate external conditions such as degrees of use of the field, climatic conditions or the like or alternatively may be partially automatic and supported by more standard methods. Coupled with the control system can be a sensing unit to determine automatically the nature of the contained liquid.

The patents and information described above do not describe a method, apparatus, or system for sensing, viewing, or interpreting sporting activities from below, within, or at the surface on which the sporting activities occur using detection capable grass and turf blades across the entire sporting activity surface.

To overcome these shortcomings, the present invention provides a method, apparatus, or system for sensing, viewing, or interpreting sporting activities from below, within, or at the surface on which the sporting activities occur using detection capable grass and turf blades across the entire sporting activity surface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the objective of the invention to provide an enhanced method of viewing, sensing, and interpreting sporting activities from below, within, and at the sporting activity surface using detection capable grass and turf blades across the entire sporting activity surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood by references to the following brief description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1. View of a section of a grass or turf sport activity surface showing a viewing, sensing, interpreting, or replaying device in (and may also be positioned on, or about) a grass or turf “blade”; the blade then positioned in (or may be positioned on) the soil or other material and showing a surface on which the soil or other material may be positioned; the latter occurring in some indoor and some outdoor sports activity facilities or surfaces and includes the energy source if and as required. The viewing, sensing, interpreting, or replaying device is shown positioned in (and may be also positioned on, or about) the soil or other material as well as in (and may be also positioned on, or about) the surface on which the soil or turf may be positioned. Energy sources are provided if and as required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION References are to Illustrations

The sporting event sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system may be constructed beneath, within, or at the surface on which sporting activities occur. FIG. 1 shows a section of a surface on which a sporting activity may occur. Depicted in this FIGURE are the surface of the material on which the grass or turf may be positioned (1), a grass or turf “blade” or other grass or turf material (2), the sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying device positioned within a grass or turf “blade” as an example of device positioning, (3), a depth of the material in or on which the grass or turf blade may be positioned such as soil, ground components, or other material (4), the sensing, viewing, or interpreting device (5) positioned in or about the material on or about which the material in or on which the grass or turf “blade” or other grass or turf material may be positioned, the material on or about which the soil or other material may be positioned (6), the sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying device extending to and beyond the edges of the grass or turf “blade” or other grass or turf material (7), and the sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying device positioned (8) in or about the base upon which the material in which the grass or turf blade (soil, etc.) is positioned. The energy source, within, about, or external to the grass or turf, as required, is also shown (9).

The grass “blades” or other grass materials (2) are made of, and are representative of, one or more of the various kinds of grass on or about which sports activities may occur. The turf “blades” or other turf materials (2) are made of, and are representative of, one or more of the various materials of which turf sports surfaces are typically or non-typically made. There are many types of turf (natural and synthetic) surfaces and some use filler material between the blades of artificial grass. Recent turf materials have been synthetic fibers with a base material that cushions the playing surface; the turf is connected to a backing material. The grass and turf blades in the present application are made in a similar fashion as are present and recent sport event surface turf materials and they are positioned and connected to the sporting event surface similarly.

The entire surface grass and turf blade shaped and embodied sporting event detecting and replaying system device (3), i.e. positioning of the device in or on the blade, is constructed by securing narrow tubular and other shaped optical fiber on the inside or outside of a blade of grass or turf. Considering a turf blade, the optical fiber can be approximately the same length of the blade initially, and can be positioned in and on the turf blade before, during or after the shaping and manufacturing of each individual turf blade. The fiber can be secured by melting the turf blade material around the fiber as the blade shape is formed. Insulation material may be required between the fiber tube and the turf blade material. The fiber can be secured in or on the outside of the turf blade as the blade is being formed. The optical fiber can be in its entirety shaped and colored as is the turf blade. The optical fiber can be positioned on the turf blade in an adhesive or other ‘fiber sticking to the turf blade’ process (glue, fiber adherence to the turf blade, etc.) or ‘fiber connected to the turf blade’ (wired, tied, ‘stapled’, i.e. mechanically connect the fiber to the turf blade). The fiber can be attached to grass blades in a similar fashion; especially mechanical and sticking fashion. In addition, other optical, camera, fiber, wire, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized of and non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, and content method detection devices are made similarly as are the optical fiber positioning in and on the turf and grass blade. The length of the entire surface grass and turf blade shaped and embodied sporting event detecting and replaying system device is constructed to extend the entire length or area of the turf or grass blade as well as the entire depth of soil in which the turf or grass blade is embedded; and also to the depth of the material on which the soil may be positioned. The detecting, replaying sensing, viewing and interpreting tools (cameras, recorders, electronic sensors, etc.) may be built within or about the fiber or other material or may be linked or connected to such devices. The device is constructed to view, sense, interpret and replay at any given depth along the device length from the upper tip of the blade (i.e. sporting activity surface) or device down to the lower end of the device which may be at the soil surface or to within the surface on which the soil is located (for artificial sporting activity surfaces).

Optical fibers are known (for example) to produce 8,800 pixel per 1.5 mm diameter; very powerful. These fibers allow one to see the same as your eyes can in low light conditions. Fiber optic tubes have the ability to bend light and provide 45 degrees field of view. They can be screwed on to cameras, recorders, monitors, etc. at many different distances and positions with optional adapters. The optical fiber detection device for the present application is made with these considerations. The outward tip of the optic fibers, reaching from the upward tip of the grass or turf blade down to the point where the blade touches the soil or ground, is exposed to, and actually makes up the playing field or court surface. With thousands and thousands of these fiber optic equipped blades across the entire playing field or court, any sport activity occurring above the fiber optic equipped blades, i.e. the entire playing field or court, can be viewed from below the actual activity. The optical fiber connected to the camera, recorder, etc. can facilitate the sensing, viewing, replaying, etc. over the entire sporting event surface. Any activity occurring in view of, within sensing range or over the fiber optic embodied and equipped turf or grass blades which cover the entire sporting event surface will be viewed, sensed, interpreted and replayed. In addition, other optical, camera, fiber, wire, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized and non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, and content method detection devices (3) are made similarly as are the optical fiber regarding size, connection to cameras, recorders, etc. and complete field or court coverage. Very narrow tubes made of other materials can also be constructed in order for the detecting device to observe and record etc. vibrations or motion or feel (plastic tube connected to a motion or vibration sensor located below or about the sporting event surface). In the construction of all of the various detecting devices (3), the viewed, sensed and replayed sporting event activity information must be transmitted, transferred or transported from the detection device (3) to video, audio and other devices.

The sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying device (3) described above and positioned within or about a grass or turf “blade” or other grass or turf material, and the extension of the same (7), may be constructed, made, or grown in, on, or about the various materials that make up grass or turf “blades” or other grass or turf components upon or about which sporting activities occur. The sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying device may be made or constructed using optical, fiber, wire, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, magnetic, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized or non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, or content sensing, viewing, or interpreting mechanisms. The sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying devices or mechanisms may be positioned, constructed, or made within or about the grass or turf “blade” or other grass or turf material, as part of the grass or turf, or within or about the material in, on, or about which the grass or turf is positioned.

The surface in or about which the grass or turf may be positioned (1 and 4) may be grass, turf, soil, clay, silt, sand, concrete, rock, metal, wood, ice, asphalt, rubber, glass or plastic, ground, artificial, or components thereof or various compositions of these materials. The surface in or about which the grass, turf, or other material may be positioned may be of a permanent or temporary nature.

The surface or material in, on, or about which sporting activity grass or turf is positioned (1, 4) is usually soil, ground, or artificial material. The sensing, viewing, interpreting, seeing, reviewing, or replaying devices (5) may be made, constructed, or positioned in, on, or about said soil or other material in order to view the sporting activity from below the surface on which the sporting activity is occurring. The sporting activity sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying device may view, sense, interpret, and replay the sporting activity from a single position or from multiple positions within or about the soil or other material as well as from a combination of positions within or about the grass, turf, soil, clay, silt, sand, concrete, rock, metal, wood, ice, asphalt, rubber, glass or plastic, ground, artificial, or components thereof or other material individually or in a combined manner. Similarly, the sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying devices and mechanisms (8) may be positioned in, on, or about the material (6) upon which the materials in, on, or about which the grass or turf may be positioned (1, 4). Energy sources (9) may vary and are provided if needed and as required.

The sensing, viewing, interpreting, or and replaying device including the optical, fiber, wire, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, magnetic, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized or non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, or content sensing, viewing, or interpreting mechanisms may be positioned or may occur at any point in or about the grass or turf “blade” or other grass or turf material, the material in, on, or about which the grass or turf may be positioned, or at any point in or about the material on which the previously described material may be positioned.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

-   1. Amron, Alan and Dinicola, Brian K., 2004, “System for operating     one or more lasers to project a visible line onto a grass-covered     surface”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,041. -   2. Betts, David A., Bennett, Christopher James, Rasmussen, Douglas     W., 2004, “Fish finding method and system”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,771,562. -   3. Squires, Troy, 2005, “Horizontally draining, pre-engineered     synthetic turf field”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,272. -   4. Brogger, Brian and Kerns, William J., 2001, “System for     retrospective identification and method of marking articles for     retrospective identification”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,690. -   5. Mitchell, Andrew John, 2000 “Motion apparatus”, U.S. Pat. No.     6,123,647. -   6. Motz, Joseph E., Heinlein, Mark A., Goddard; James B., Tyner;     Carl, Reese, Craig, Ferry, Brian L., 1999, “Control system for     draining, irrigating and heating an athletic field”, U.S. Pat. No.     5,944,444. -   7. Motz, Joseph E., Heinlein, Mark A., Goddard, James B., Tyner;     Car, 1998, “Low profile drainage network for athletic field drainage     system”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,784. -   8. Cunningham, Percy C., 1984, “System for improving synthetic     surfaces”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,184. -   9. Cunningham, Percy C., 1981, “Grass sports surfaces and a method     for maintaining them”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,993. 

1: A method of making a grass and turf blade shaped and embodied sporting event detecting and replaying system, multiples of which extend over an entire sporting event surface, the step comprising: connecting narrow and light-weight optical, camera, fiber, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized or non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, or content sensing, viewing, interpreting and replaying devices inside and about a grass and turf blade from a position located between the upper most vertical part and tip of the grass and turf blade down to the upper sporting event surface in which the grass and turf blade is positioned. 2: A method of making the sporting event detecting and replaying system described in claim 1 wherein the sporting activities occur on grass and turf. 3: A method of making the sporting event detecting and replaying system described in claim 1 wherein the system senses, views, interprets, and replays parts of the sporting activity and the entire sporting activity. 4: A method of making the sporting event detecting and replaying system described in claim 1 wherein the system senses, views, interprets, and replays a part of the sporting activity on and above markings on and about the sporting activity surface. 5: (canceled) 6: A method of making the sporting event detecting and replaying system described in claim 1 wherein the method of sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying results are of a composite and individual nature. 7: A method of making a grass turf blade shaped and embodied sporting event detecting and replaying system, multiples of which extend over an entire sporting event surface, the step comprising: connecting narrow and light-weight optical, camera, fiber, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized or non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, or content sensing, viewing, interpreting and replaying devices inside and about a grass and turf blade from within the sporting event surface on which the grass and turf blade is positioned to a subsurface depth reflecting the downward extension of the blade and device into the sporting event sub-surface. 8: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 7 wherein the sporting activities occur on grass and turf. 9: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 7 wherein the system senses, views, interprets, and replays parts of the sporting activity and the entire sporting activity. 10: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 7 wherein the system senses, views, interprets, and replays the sporting activity on and above markings on and about the sporting activity surface. 11: (canceled) 12: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 7 wherein the method of sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying results are of a composite and individual nature. 13: A method of making a grass and turf blade shaped and embodied sporting event detecting and replaying system, multiples of which extend over an entire sporting event surface, the step comprising: connecting narrow and light-weight optical, camera, fiber, radiation/radiological, physical, sound, motion, reflective, refractive, electronic, smell, feel, computer, technological, digitized or non-digitized, transmitted, transferred, transported, pressure, temperature, mass, or content sensing, viewing, interpreting and replaying devices inside and about a grass and turf blade from a position level with the upper parts and tips of the sporting event grass and turf blade. 14: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 13 wherein the sporting activities occur on grass and turf. 15: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 13 wherein the system senses, views, interprets, and replays parts of the sporting activity and the entire sporting activity. 16: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 13 wherein the system senses, views, interprets, and replays the sporting activity on and above markings on and about the sporting activity surface. 17: (canceled) 18: A method of making the sporting event grass and turf blade embodied sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying system described in claim 13 wherein the method of sensing, viewing, interpreting, and replaying results are of a composite and individual nature. 